Page 55 of Wolf Unseen

32

Riley

The shifter fights took place in an abandoned mine twice a month. They were illegal and security was, therefore, tight, so having a QR code was the only way to get in.

The minute I asked Kasia about a QR code, she sent one over via direct message. My new tiger shifter bestie had connections. I was thankful we were now friends.

Witches and mages could use teleportation magic to get around, but we shifters weren’t so lucky. Shifters might be goddess-blessed with exceptional strength, longer lives, and healing powers, but most of us had no magical abilities.

Unfortunately that meant I had to call a cab to take me to the fight venue, and with nobody to share the cost, it proved an expensive ride.

Felix had given me some money before I left the US. I hadn’t asked where the money came from, fully aware it was probably payment from a hacking job. He’d told me to let him know if I needed more cash, and he’d send it over via an untraceable money transfer service.

One day, when fate gifted me a billionaire human husband, I’d pay him back. But until then, I happily accepted the loans with zero shame.

“You sure this is where you want to be?” the bear shifter rideshare driver grunted. “A lot of bad shit goes on in these parts.”

Bad shit could cover many things, but I decided not to ask him for details, not needing to hear about rogue demons and feral shifter attacks.

“I’m sure. Thanks for the ride.”

“Look, I’ll hang around for a few minutes, yeah? I don’t like the idea of a kid like you getting stuck out here.”

He had a point. There was nothing but impenetrable forest as far as the eye could see. Without a map pin, I’d never have found the place.

A flashy sports car roared past us and skidded to a stop further down the gravel track. I watched as two burly, well-dressed guys stepped out. One turned and stared menacingly at my rideshare with freaky pale eyes before disappearing into the trees with his companion.

“See?” the rideshare driver muttered. “Shifter mafia.”

A message from the pussy squad popped up on my phone.

Kasia: We’re here and inside already, let us know when you arrive

Haley: Lots of hot dudes!

Raquel: Pussy power for the win!!!!

Bree: *cat twerking GIF*

I followed the narrow track through the trees, determined not to get lost. Kasia had explained that access to the cavern where the fights took place was via a cave entrance.

According to local history pages online, there were many miles of tunnels and old mine shafts under these mountains. I silently prayed there were no mythical dragons or flesh-melting demons lurking deep underground. Coming face to face with an angry, fire-breathing dragon or an ugly demon was unlikely to put me in a good mood.

After ten minutes, the trail ended in a wide clearing facing a sheer rock face covered in moss and small scrubby plants. It took a few minutes of staring intently before I spotted the shadow of a cave opening, partially hidden by a spiky tree.

Once I got closer, two bulky figures emerged from the gloom just inside the tunnel entrance, both wearing menacing scowls. They scanned my QR code before grunting and letting me pass into a wide tunnel lit by mage lights.

The tunnel sloped down and then turned a corner. A wall of sound hit me the minute I passed through an arch into a vast cavern. Music pumped from hidden speakers, and the roar of males yelling nearly deafened me.

The good news was my wolf seemed unconcerned. Not that her lack of response was in any way reassuring, since she only paid attention when certain males were nearby. Males I wanted nothing to do with.

The feline shifters stood at a makeshift bar guzzling bottles of cheap human beer when I pushed through the throngs of shifters, most of them male. All four had dressed to impress in slinky dresses and sky-high heels. If their aim was to attract male attention this evening, it was working because I spotted several males ogling them with stars in their eyes.

Kasia handed me a beer as I scanned the huge cavern with an octagonal ring in the center, surrounded by baying spectators waving their fists in the air at whatever was happening. I saw money changing hands, with several suited guys standing off to one side.

More tunnels led away from the rear of the main cavern, all guarded by shifters wearing suits. I wondered where the other tunnels went, while also resolving not to bother investigating because I had no desire to get lost or murdered.

The suited males stood out. It was pretty obvious these dudes were mafia, and also not wolves.